Pipette washer



May 3, 1960 2,935,073

J. R. MYcoCK PIPETTE WASHER Filed Jan. 8, 1959 FIG.1

ATTOR N E Y v" [lnited States Patent Pirnrrn WASHER John R. Mycock,Trenton, NJ., assignor to Clay-Adams, Inc., New York, N.Y., acorporation of New York 'Application January s, 1959, serial No. 785,5857 claims. (cl. 134-171) 4device for washing a plurality of tubular, openended elements such as pipettes or the like, wherein a washing medium ispassed through the elements by means of vvacuum or air under pressure,together with valve means for controlling said vacuum or air underpressure in accordance with the number of elements being washed.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved washingdevice of the character described, comprisinga combination supportingand manifold head for mounting varying numbers of tubular elements forwashing, the head being provided with openings for receiving the tubularelements, and improved valve means for closing off any unused openingsin the head.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a washingheadhaving a plurality of openings therein for mounting tubular elements tobe washed, together with a simplified ap type valve means for all theopenings which allows for easy manipulation to mount the elements insaid openings and to leave said device operative when the number ofelements so mounted is less than the total number of openings in thehead.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

In the drawing,

Fig. l is a top plan view of a washer head embodying the invention, withportions cut away;

Fig. 2. is an elevational view in section of the head mounted on acontainer; and

Fig. 3 isa bottom plan View of the head, with portions cut away.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 10 designates a washing deviceembodying the invention and particularly adapted for the washing oftubular members open at the opposite ends thereof, such as pipettes orthe like. The same comprises a container for holding a suitable washingsolution, and a head generally indicated at H. The head H is removablymounted on the rim of container C and is adapted to hold tubular membersT for immersion in the washing solution, to wash the same.

Head H comprises a cylindrical shaped body A' formed of a somewhatresilient material such as natural or synthetic rubber. The top surface11 of body A is formed with an annular channel 12 located adjacent edge13. The body A is further formed with a plurality of spaced throughopenings 114 extending transversely from bottom surface 15 to the bottomwall 16 of channel 12. Thus, openings 14 are arranged in a circle andare interconnected at their upper ends by the annular channel 12.

A metal conduit plate 17 lies in contact with top surface 11 of body A,thereby enclosing channel 12. A

conduit connector member 18 is mounted in upstanding relation on plate17, said member 18 being located so Ias to communicate at its lower endwith channel 12.

Valve means is provided for independently closing each of the openings14 at the lower ends thereof. To this end, there is provided a thin,flexible valve sheet 19 in circular form which is die cut or otherwiseformed to provide at its periphery a plurality of radially extending,independent flapper valve portions 20. Valve sheet 19 is clamped againstthe lower surface of body A by a clamp plate 21 having an annular flange22.

The underside of body A is formed with a circular boss 23 projectingfrom the central portion thereof. Sheet 19 is seated on boss 23 and heldin place by clamp plate 21 whose flange 22 engages the -base portions ofvalve portions 20 to clamp the same against the edge of boss 23. A pairof diametral projections 24 extending from boss 23 pass throughregistering openings in valve sheet 19 and clamp plate 21, to properlylocate the valve portions 20 over the respective openings 14 to closethe same.

The plates 17, 21 are held in place on the body A by means of athumbscrew 25 passing through a central opening 26 in plate 17, aregistering central opening 27 in body A and is screwed at its lower endin a tapped central portion 28 in clamp plate 21.

In using'device 10, a differential of pressure is established Awithincontainer C when body A is mounted thereon, the marginal projectingportion of plate 17 abutting the rim of container C; as by connectingmember 18 to a source of vacuum. Under these conditions, valve portions20 are operative to close off the openings 14, being securely held inplace against the lower ends of said openings.

Any given number of tubular members T such as pipettes or the like, notexceeding the total number of openings 14, may be previously mounted onbody VA, for washing. The valve portions 20 are deected to expose theopenings 114 and the upper end portions of the members T are insertedtherein. Upon so positioning members T on body A, said head is mountedon container C with members T immersed in the cleaning solution in saidcontainer.

Upon applying vacuum to member 18, the cleaning solution is sucked upthrough each of the members T, passing by way of channel 12 and member18 outwardly of container C for suitable disposition, thereby washingand cleaning the bore of said members T.

When the total number of members T amount to less than the openings 14on body A, the unused openings remain in an in operative condition byreason of the valve portions 20 which effectively close off the same. Itwill be apparent, that valve portions 20 may be easily and quicklydeilected from selected openings 14 to permit the mounting of tubularymembers T therein while the unused openings are closed off at alltimes, the valve portions being sealed in place by the vacuum.

It is understood that openings 14 in body A may have other spacingpatterns, with a corresponding modication of the channel 12 to providemanifold means for establishing communication between each of theopenings and conduit connector 18.

Valve sheet 19 may be formed from thin natural or synthetic rubbersheeting which is stamped or die cut to form the radial notches whichleave the marginal portion thereof in the form of the independent,radially extending apper valve portions 20.

As various changes might be made in the embodiment of the inventionherein shown without departing from the l Patented May 3,1960

Having thus disclosed my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent:

1. In a device for washing tubular members open at the opposite endsthereof comprising a container for holding washing solution and a headon said container for suspending said tubular members in dependingrelation thereto for immersion in the washing solution, said headcomprising a member formed with a plurality of spaced, transverselyextending through openings for receiving in the lower ends thereof theupper ends of said tubular members, conduit means on said head, manifoldmeans for connecting said conduit means with the upper ends of saidthrough openings, and apper valve means on the underside of said headfor closing said through openings, said valve means comprisingindependent Valve portions overlying the lower ends of each of saidthrough openings, selected valve portions being movable to aninoperative position to allow the insertion of the upper end Yof s aidtubular members in the openings associated with said selected valveportions.

2,. A device as in claim l wherein said valve portions comprise thin,flexible sheet portions,

3. A pipette washer comprising a cylindrical body formed with aplurality of spaced through openings, a manifold channel formed on onesurface of said body for interconnecting said openings at one endthereof, a member on said one surface of the body for enclosing saidchannel, conduit means on said member in communication with saidchannel, a valve member on the other surface of said body, said valvemember including a central portion and separate valve portions extendingoutwardly from said central portion for respectively closing saidopenings at the other end thereof, each of said valve portions beingindependently movable to a position substantially at right angles tosaid central portion to expose the corresponding opening, and means forclamping the central portion of said valve member against the othersurface of said body.

4. A washer as in claim 3 wherein said body is formed of resilientmaterial.

5, A pipette washer comprising a body, said body being formed with aplurality of spaced through openings for receiving inserted pipettes,means on said body for interconnecting said openings at one end thereof,conduit means communicating with said interconnecting means, valve meanson said body, said valve means comprising a plurality of independentvalve portions respectively covering said openings at the other endthereof, a selected valve portion being independently movable to aposition allowingthe insertion of a pipette in the opening associatedtherewith, the remaining valve portions covering the respective openingsassociated therewith.

6. A'washer as in'claim 5 lwherein saidvalve means comprises acentral'portion and said valve portions comprise laterally spaced, thinflexible portions extending outwardly of said central portion, saidflexible portions being freely movable away from and into the plane ofsaidv central portion.

7. A washer head comprising a body formed with a plurality of spacedopenings for receiving end portions of tubular members, said openingsextending to at least one surface portion of said body, valve means onsaid one surface portion of the body, said valve means comprising aplurality of independent valve portions respectively associated withvsaid openings for closing said openings, selected valve portions beingmovable to positions allowing the insertion of said tubular members inthe yopenings associated therewith while other openings are closed bythe valve portions associated therewith, and conduit means on said bodyin communicating relation with said openings.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS.1,634,949 Levalley July 5, 1927 2,211,212 Langdon Aug. 13, 19402,233,852 Schmitt Mar. 4, 1941

